Film academy invites 271 to join in the Oscar vote

The Associated Press

Posted:
06/26/2014 04:31:03 PM MDT

Updated:
06/26/2014 05:39:04 PM MDT

Click photo to enlarge

FILE - In this Sunday, March 2, 2014 file photo, Lupita Nyong'o arrives at the Oscars, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Two hundred seventy one people working in the movie business have been asked to join its most exclusive club: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy announced on Thursday, June 26, 2014 that Nyong?o, Chris Rock, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Statham and Michael Fassbender are among those invited to the actors branch. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A total of 271 people working in the movie business have been asked to join its most exclusive club: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Lupita Nyong'o, Chris Rock, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Statham and Michael Fassbender are among those invited to the actors branch, the academy announced Thursday. Music invitees include Pharrell Williams, Eddie Vedder and the Oscar-winning writers of "Let It Go," Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

The film academy extends invitations annually to new members. Candidates are suggested by existing members of each of the organization's 17 branches.

Those who join the academy become permanent members and cast ballots for the Academy Awards.

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